ExpressVPN review: The layman’s VPN we’ve all been searching for

When it comes to building something customers want, you won’t find a better VPN provider than ExpressVPN. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into both the service and its apps, the result being a perfect balance between simplicity, performance, and customization.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: is it fast? The answer is an unequivocal yes. You’ll have no problem streaming HD video, watching live TV, and even gaming online from almost any server on the list. If you really want to maximize your download speed, the ExpressVPN app comes with a speed tester built in. Bandwidth is unlimited, and you can switch servers as many times as your heart desires.

Unless you’re on a wicked-fast 100 Mbps connection, you probably won’t notice any difference in speed when the VPN is turned on. ExpressVPN operates hundreds of servers across 78 countries, so you’re sure to find a few that fit your needs. That includes multiple locations in popular countries like the US and UK. That makes it ideal for those who want an easy way to stream Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Spotify, or other streaming entertainment with geographically restricted content.

The speed is even more impressive when you account for the fact that all ExpressVPN connections are encrypted with military-grade 256-bit SSL. In an age when VPNs are quickly becoming as indispensable as antivirus, that encryption is a huge bonus. Your device’s location and IP address will be masked from websites, and snoops can’t monitor your activity–whether they’re the government, NSA, or a hacker on the public wifi at your local coffee shop. On top of that, the company doesn’t store any user logs on its servers, so it has no user information to give up to authorities. Not that such a situation is likely to arise; ExpressVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, outside the jurisdiction of US, UK, and EU law.

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ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac OSX, Android, and iOS. You can also set it up on a router if you want to run all your home’s devices through the VPN. That includes game consoles, smart TVs, and set-top boxes, and other online media peripherals.

In a market where design often seems like an afterthought, ExpressVPN is a breath of fresh air. The interface is so easy that even the least tech savvy among us can use it without issue. Setup is a breeze, as well. After signing up (which only requires an email address, by the way), just download the appropriate app and run it. Click through the install process, input the activation code on the download page, and you’re up and running. No need to log in over and over every time you restart a device.

A large “Connect” button appears front and center. Just click it and wait a few seconds for the VPN to reroute all your internet traffic through the destination of your choice. You can “star” your favorite servers to make them easier to find and connect to. If you don’t want to leave the client window open, ExpressVPN will quietly run in your system tray. There’s no complicated installation or configuration process.

Should you run into any issues, an expert support staff stands at the ready 24 hours per day via live chat on the website.

You can pay for ExpressVPN with a credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, or any of several other third-party payment gateways. If you don’t love it as much as we did, every subscription comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions ask.